Water Maker Device

ABSTRACT

A water making device includes a cooling process and heating process to generate water from air. The water making device includes a refrigerant assembly to cool down the air within the structure of the device. After reaching a specified temperature, air is let into the device using an air controller. A frost portion is formed inside the water making device. The cooling process finishes when the frost portion is at a specified thickness. A heating process uses a resistance surrounding the interior of the water making device to circulate hot air to melt the frost portion. Water droplets are generated and collected. The cooling process starts again upon completion of the heating process.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/327,571 filed Apr. 26, 2016, and entitled “Water Maker Device,” which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety, including figures, tables, equations or drawings.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The system and methods disclosed herein relate to a device to make water from air within a closed system.

BACKGROUND

Water resources, especially clean water, face the prospect of becoming scarcer due to growing population and industrialization. The majority of uses for water require fresh water. Fresh water, however, only encompasses 3% of the world's water supply. A majority of this small percentage is frozen or below ground and not readily available for human consumption. To provide water due to increasing demands, water making machines have become available.

Conventional machines may make water from air. These machines first condense air in a cooler and then gather the water drops. The water machines that use these processes depend upon the humidity within the air to generate the water drops. The efficiency of these machines is low in low humidity environments, and may not be able to produce any water at all. Further, the time to make the water may be lengthy. Thus, for low humidity conditions, the conventional water making machine may not be a solution to meet the increasing demand for fresh water.

BRIEF SUMMARY

A water making device according to the disclosed embodiments provides a water making capacity that is greater and faster than known machines. The disclosed water making device also works efficiently in low humidity environments. Moreover, the disclosed water making device draws less energy during use because it uses a smaller compressor.

The disclosed process quickly makes water from air by creating a frost portion within the water making device. The disclosed process then heats and melts the frost portion within the water making device. The water may be purified and converted into high quality drinking or fresh water.

A water making device is disclosed. The water making device includes a structure to form an interior. The interior holds air. The water making device also includes a cooling assembly to reduce the temperature of the air. The water making device also includes an air controller to input ambient air into the interior when the temperature reaches a specified value. The water making device also includes a frost portion formed from the ambient air within the interior. The frost portion has a thickness value. The water making device also includes a sensor to detect the thickness value. The water making device also includes a heating assembly to increase the temperature of the air within the interior. Water is generated by melting the frost portion.

A method for making water using a water making device also is disclosed. The method includes cooling air within an interior of a structure to reduce a temperature of the air. The method also includes inputting air into the interior when the temperature reaches a specified value. The method also includes forming a frost portion on the structure. The method also includes sensing a thickness of the frost portion. The method also includes heating the air to increase the temperature of the air. The method also includes melting the frost portion to generate water.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description makes reference to the accompanying figures wherein:

FIG. 1 illustrates a water making device according to the preferred embodiment.

Other objects, features, and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure and the combination of parts, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description with reference to the accompanying drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A detailed illustrative embodiment of the present invention is disclosed herein. However, techniques, methods, processes, systems and operating structures in accordance with the present invention may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and modes, some of which may be quite different from those in the disclosed embodiment. Consequently, the specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative, yet in that regard, they are deemed to afford the best embodiment for purposes of disclosure. The following presents a detailed description of the preferred embodiment of with reference to the figures.

Referring initially to FIG. 1, shown is water making device 100 according to the disclosed embodiments. Water making device 100 creates a frost portion 102 at a certain thickness in the inside layer of the device by allowing controlled air therein. Water making device 100 cools down the interior to below the freezing point of water or 0 degrees Celsius. When a specified thickness of the frost portion is achieved, a sensor 104 stops the cooling process. A heating process begins. The heating process continues until frost portion 102 is melted to a specified thickness. Water making device 100 operates at intervals by switching between the heating and cooling processes. Generated water 106 is collected in a water tank 108, which is then sent to a system connected to the water making device. Water making device 100 continues working until water tank 108 is filled. Water making device 100 may stop automatically.

The embodiments of water making device 100 are disclosed in greater detail below. Water making device 100 includes components to facilitate the heating and cooling processes to form water 106. These components include resistance 110, which wraps around an inside surface of structure 120 of water making device 100. An air controller 112 includes a fan 113 to create an air flow into the interior of water making device 100. Air controller 112 also may receive hot air 116 from resistance 110. This process is explained in greater detail below.

Water making device 100 also includes a programmer 114 for timing and control. Programmer 114 may employ several functions, including instructing other components when to operate and when to start/finish processes. Programmer 114 may include logic and components to perform these functions, such as a processor, a memory to store instructions executed on the processor, a data base to connect the processor to the memory, and the like. Programmer 114 receives inputs from these components to determine what actions to take within water making device 100. Specifically, programmer 114 receives inputs from sensor 104 and air controller 112 to control operations.

Structure 120 is shown as having a cylindrical shape, but may be other shapes as well. Structure 120 defines the interior of water making device 100 where ambient air is received from air controller 112. A power input 122 provides power to the components within water making device 100. Preferably, power input 122 receives AC power between about 110 to about 220 volts at a frequency of 45-65 hertz. Programmer 114 may convert the input voltage to values needed by the individual components, such as 24 volts to air controller 112.

A preferred process is disclosed. Initially, the inside of water making device 100 is cooled down to around 20 degrees Celsius using pipes 109. The air circulation of ambient air into water making device 100 is provided by air controller 112. As noted above, air controller 112 may operate on a direct current (DC) voltage of 24 volts. Smart automatic programmer 114 instructs air controller 112 when to circulate the air.

When the temperature inside structure 120 of water making device 100 is below 20 degrees Celsius, air controller 112 lets the ambient air go inside structure 120. This air creates frost crystals inside the surface of structure 120. The amount of frost forms frost portion 102 on the inside of water making device 100. Frost portion 102 grows in thickness as the process is repeated to bring in new air. The thickness of frost portion 102 is measurable by sensor 104.

Frost is created for frost portion 102 until it reaches a preset thickness value. Sensor 104 sends a signal to programmer 114 that the preset value has been reached. This period may initially last approximately 45 minutes for the first cooling cycle, and may last about 20 minutes in subsequent cycles.

Upon detection of the preset thickness, programmer 114 may initiate the heating process. The heating process uses resistance 110, which wraps around the interior of water making device 100. Hot air 116 from resistance 110 circulates inside water making device 100 via fan 113 in air controller 112. Frost portion 102 melts upon coming into contact with hot air 116. This melted frost becomes water 106. Water 106 collects at the bottom of water making device 100 and flows into water tank 108. Water 106 may be collected in a conical tray 107.

The heating process may continue until the temperature in the interior is 90 degrees Celsius or sensor 104 detects that frost portion 102 is at a certain thinness. In other words, the specified thickness of frost portion 102 has been reduced a certain amount. Preferably, the specified thickness should not be zero, but a small amount to encourage the formation of ice crystals. Preferably, the heating process should last about 10 minutes.

Water 106 passes through drain valve 124. Drain valve 124 may be controlled by programmer 114. Thus, water 106 is not continuously flowing from conical tray 107. A small volume water making device 100 may have a capacity of two liters. At this capacity, water making device 100 may be instructed to make water of between 10-100 liters per day. The generated water may be used in agriculture, industry, irrigations or cleaning. The water may go through a filtering process in order to become drinkable water.

Thus, for example, programmer 114 may instruct refrigerant unit 190 to circulate coolant through pipes 109 to cool down the inside of water making device 100. The air within device 100 lowers in temperature, as detected by thermostat 118. When the temperature of the air reaches 20 degrees Celsius, then programmer 114 instructs air controller 112 to allow ambient air inside the interior. Frost portion 102 is created.

When frost portion 102 achieves a thickness, for example, of 2 centimeters, sensor 104 alerts programmer 114. Programmer 114 sends an instruction to refrigerant unit 190 to finish the cooling process. Hot air 116 then flows through resistance 110 to melt frost portion 102. The heating process continues until frost portion 102 is reduced to, for example, 0.5 centimeters. Then, the cooling process is repeated.

The above values are for illustrative purposes only. Any value may be used for the thickness or thinness of frost portion 102. The values may depend on the size of water making device 100 and other factors, such as how much water is to be generated during each cycle.

While the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiment, which has been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a complete disclosure of the invention, the preferred embodiment is merely exemplary and is not intended to be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the invention. It will be apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention. It should be appreciated that the present invention is capable of being embodied in other forms without departing from its essential characteristics. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A water making device comprising: a structure to form an interior, wherein the interior holds air; a cooling assembly to reduce a temperature of the air; an air controller to input ambient air into the interior when the temperature reaches a specified value; a frost portion formed from the ambient air within the interior, wherein the frost portion has a thickness value; a sensor to detect the thickness value; and a heating assembly to increase the temperature of the air within the interior, wherein water is generated by melting the frost portion.
 2. A method for making water using a water making device, the method comprising: cooling air within an interior of a structure to reduce a temperature of the air; inputting air into the interior when the temperature reaches a specified value; forming a frost portion on the structure; sensing a thickness of the frost portion; heating the air to increase the temperature of the air; and melting the frost portion to generate water. 